NHLBI Career Transition Award for Intramural Postdoctoral Fellows and Research Trainees (K22 Clinical Trial Required)

The NHLBI Career Transition Award, also known as K22, is a program specifically designed for highly competent postdoctoral fellows within the NHLBI Division of Intramural Research. The key aim is to help them transfer their research programs to independent positions at institutions outside the NHLBI. This is accomplished through a dual-phase approach.

The first phase is a mentored intramural stage lasting up to two years, during which the researcher continues their work under NHLBI supervision. The second is an extramural stage that lasts three years, in which they carry out their research at an external organisation.

Together, these two stages provide up to five years of support. However, transition from the first to the second phase isn't automatic. Progression onto the second phase depends on the researcher demonstrating satisfactory progress during the first stage.

This is determined through an NHLBI progress review, which assesses the success of the awardee's research program and includes an analysis of a planned course of research to be performed at the new external institution. Importantly, for the K22 award, a clinical trial is mandatory.